NASKAH PUBLIKASI
PERSISTENCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN THE KING’S SPEECH
MOVIE (2011) DIRECTED BY TOM HOOPER: AN EXISTENTIALIST APPROACH
Ditulis oleh:
ISTIKOMAH A 320 080 295
PENDIDIKAN BAHASA INGGRIS
FAKULTAS KEGURUAN DAN ILMU PENDIDIKAN UNIVERSITAS MUHAMMADIYAH SURAKARTA
PERSISTENCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN THE KING’S SPEECH MOVIE (2011): DIRECTED BY TOM HOOPER
EXISTENTIALIST APPROACH
Istikomah Consultant I) Nur Hidayat (Consultant II)
(School of Teacher Training and Education, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta)
ABSTRACT
This study is aimed to show Persistence to be able to speak in The King’s Speech (2011) movie by using existentialist approach. It is done by establishing two objectives: the first is analyzing the movie based on its structural elements and the second is analyzing the movie based on the Existentialist Approach.
This research is descriptive qualitative research. Type of data of the study is text and image taken from two data sources: primary and secondary. The primary data source is The King’s Speech movie directed by Tom Hooper released in 2011. While the secondary data sources are other materials taken from books, journals, and internet related to the study. Both data are collected through library research and analyzed by descriptive analysis.
The study comes to the following conclusions. First, based on the structural analysis of each elements, it shows that the character and characterization, casting, plot, setting, point of view, theme, mise en scene, cinematography, sound, and editing are related to each other and form a unity. Second, based on the Existentialist analysis reflected in the character and characterization in being, existence before essence, consciousness (cogito), freedom to choose, anxiety, transcendence ego, and nothingness, awareness of the existence of life lead to meaningful goal in human’s life.
1. Introduction
Everyone in the world has persistence to ride their life. Persistence is
characteristic which is proposed by human being. By this characteristic
human being can be successful in their life. In this sense, human being will
work hard to reach what they want in their life. In another meaning human
being always be patient and always try if they fail to reach their dream.
The King’s Speech movie is tells true story about sttamerer King Goerge VI that started by Colin Firth. The movie tells the story of a man who became
King George VI, after his brother abdicated, and he must ascend to the throne
to replace his brother. Because it has a stutter and considered unfit to be king,
assisted by Elizabeth, Bertie to do therapy involving the help of a speech
therapist Lionel Logue named is unorthodox methods.. Finally Prince Albert
can making a speech normally. The King’s Speech movie is based on real story of The King Goerge VI. This movie released on January 7, 2011 in
United Kingdom. This movie directed by Tom Hooper and written by David
Seidler. Tom Hooper was born in 1972 in London, England. Hooper grew up
in London, the son of an Australian mom and an English dad. He started
making movies when he was thirteen years old, and after he graduated from
University College at Oxford in 1991, he was already an experienced director
of TV commercials with contemporaries Kate Beckinsale and Emily
Mortimer. He was born in London 1937. He spent early chilhood in London.
He grew up in an upper middle class Jewish family. He decided to write and
his first work was The Adventures Of A Penny. There are many reasons why the researcher interested in The King’s Speech movie. The first reason is the movie tells true story of prince Albert as a King of England. The movie tells
the story of a man who became King George VI. After his brother abdicated,
George ('Bertie') must ascend to the throne to replace his brother. Because it
has a stutter and considered unfit to be king, assisted by Elizabeth, Bertie to
do therapy involving the help of a speech therapist Lionel Logue named is
The second reason is the major character of this movie: Prince Albert’s (King Goerge VI) struggle to be able to speak. In this movie Prince Albert
played by Colin Firth. Colin Firth played with a good character as Prince
Albert. The film is only dealing with stammering George VI. He tried to heal
his stammer with various treatments. And finally he met Lionel Logue, an
Australian speech teraphist with unortodox methods. And then the final
reason is the cinematography in this movie differs from other historical
dramas. Principal photography took place in London and around Britain from
November 2009 to January 2010. Besides, hard light was used to give the
story a greater resonance and wider than normal lenses were used to recreate
the King's feelings of constriction.
The problem statement of the study is “How is persistence to be able to
speak reflected in The King’s Speech Movie?”. The researcher focuses this research in analyzing persistence to be able to speak in The King’s Speech movie based on Sartre’s theory of existentialism. The objectives of the study
are to analyze the movie based on the structural elements of the movie and to
describe the movie based on an existentialism approach.
2. Research Method
The type of this research is descriptive qualitative. Descriptive qualitative
is a type of research which employs the method of collecting, describing,
classifying and analyzing the data and then drawing conclusion. The data is
from the script of The King’s Speech movie directed by Tom Hooper. Data source is from the primary and secondary data. The primary data is the film
and the manuscript of The King’s Speech movie by Tom Hooper. The secondary data sources are from books, internet and other resources which
related to the study. The technique of data collection is the researcher
watching the primary data first and repeatedly, reads some related books as
secondary sources to find out the theory, data and information required and
take notes of important parts in both primary data and secondary data. Then,
method employed in analyzing the data is descriptive analysis, in which the
data are collected, described and then analyzed. It concerns with the structural
elements of the movie. Researcher uses existentialist approach and draws
conclusion. The benefit of this study is to give some contributions to the body
of knowledge, particularly the application of the existentialist approach in
literary studies on The King’s Speech movie and expected to enrich knowledge and experience of the researcher and another student of
Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta or another University who interests
about existentialist approach.
3. Existentialist Approach a. Notion of Existentialist
Existentialism is not easy to define, as each philosopher has different
formulation to define it. according to McGrath (1997:570), has a
meaning as a movement which emphasizes on the subjectivity of
individual existence. Webster (1995: 397) further gives the definition that the term existentialism is “a family of philosophies devoted to an interpretation of human existence in the world that stress its concreteness
and its problematic character”. In short, Existentialism is comprehended
as a philosophical movement which is giving emphasize on the
individual existence, freedom and choice.
b. Sartre’s Theory of Existentialism 1) Being
Sartre distinguished being into two, namely being-in-itself and
being-for-itself. According to Sartre in Barret being in-itself (en-soi) is
defined as,“ the self-contained being of thing “ (Barret, 1962: 245).
Sartre gives an example that a stone is a stone. Then Barret adds, “ it
Barret is, “ coextensive with the real in of consciousness, and the mature of consciousness it that it is perpetually beyond itself.
2) Existence before Essence
The second major principle of existentialism is the terms
existence before essence proposed by Sartre. Bigelow in Alssid (1966: 204) explained that “human life is understandable in terms of an individual man’s existence, his particular experience of life. Further it is explained, “A man lives means that he has an existence
rather that a man is which means he has being or essence”.
3) Self - Consciousness (Cogito)
Sartre starts his thought on Cogito, when human is aware of a
chair, he is non reflectively conscious of his awareness, but when he
deliberates think of his awareness, this is a totally new act of
consciousness, and here, he was only explicity positioning of his
awareness or himself as an object reflection (Sartre, 1958: x).
4) Freedom to Choose
Making a decision is a form of man’s freedom. “The first important truth about man’s freedom is unbearable” (Warnock, 1967:29).In Sartre’s opinion, freedom is important for human being who always deserves to have his freedom. According to Sartre in Roberts freedom means, “that man falls into existence and then finds that he must make himself whatever he is going to become “
(Roberts, 1957: 217).
5) Anxiety
The choice will appear with responsibility and consequences,
That is anxiety when the people have chosen a choice in their life,
completely they are conscious, they do just not choose what they are
being, but also all at once the legislator who decides for humans all
Ketika seseorang mengikatkan diri pada sesuatu, sepenuhnya menyadari bahwa tidak hanya memilih ia akan menjadi apa, tetapi juga sekaligus seorang legislator yang memutuskan bagi seluruh umat manusia. Dalam situasi seperti ini, ia tidak lari dari rasa tanggung jawab yang komplet dan mendalam (Sartre, 2002:49).
6) Transcendence of Ego
Human is a part of society, as a part of society itself, humans
feel that they are part of universe and have tendency to do the best
for their society as well as a hero. Transcendence of Ego is such kind
of tendencies for humans to do more helpful for their society as hero.
7) Nothingness
Nothingness appears in existentialism, as the placeholder of
the possibility. The awareness of anything in the world that is not the
own existence (which by the way, cannot be held in consciousness
without being civilized) is an awareness of nothingness, that is, what
he, this existence is not and in some cases someone could become.
C. Theory of Persistence
According Yanner Bar-Yam, Persistence refers to a system's ability to maintain itself as an entity. The notion of persistence generalizes the
notion of survival in biology, but it can apply to non-biological entities
like hurricanes or countries. it means that Persistence is characteristic which
is had by human being. By this characteristic human being can be success
in their life. In this sense, human being will work hard to reach what they
want in their life. In another meaning human being always patient and
always try if they fail to reach their dream.
While according to Katherin Hawley (How Thing Persist), 2001 state that Persistence is an essential factor in transmuting desire into good
health, to a better job, to increasing your business stream of income, to
building the congregation of your church, to your monetary goal no matter
what it is you seek. In other word, People should try to get what people
want. A happiness can be achieved when people walk on their lives with
4. Research Finding a. Being
Being-in-itself in The King’s Speech (2011) movie is shown by
Prince Albert as central character. The being of Prince Albert impresses
the good action, he defines himself as stammerer men, as daily activity he
work as a king in the kingdom.
This clearly shows that Prince Albert has a desire to live normally
like other man. He wants to be respected and well respected. He wants to
be able to speak in public like other people. And then, there is an event
that reflects the idea of being-in-itself. It is show when Prince Albert tells
in the following conversation;
Lionel
Your joking. That won't work here Prince Albert
I admit if one waits for me to start a conversation one can wait a rather long time. You call this making me comfortable?
Lionel
You call this being forthcoming? Prince Albert
Aren't you interested in treating me? (TKS/Seidler; 00:21:32)
From the conversation above, it shows that Prince Albert persist
to do anything. This is the being of Prince Albert. All of these being are
the result of the existence of his, and it is the phenomena the people
should do something to be what he want in his life.
b. Existence before Essence
In The King’s Speech movie existence before essence shows when Prince Albert apologized to realize that the words of Lionel Logue
is true, just how Lionel Logue deliver the opinion is wrong. It is show in
the folowing conversation:
Prince Albert
Waiting for the king to ask for forgiveness, a person can wait very long
Elizabeth
I'm afraid we are a little bit late Lionel Logue
This is house.
From this conversation, it shows that Prince Albert tried to
appologize to Lionel Logue. Prince Albert acknowledged that he was
wrong to him. All of these existence before essence are the result of the
existence of them. These are the aspect of existence before essence
which analyze the process of becoming of human as he define as he
wants.
c. Consiousness
As a major character, Prince Albert has consiousness which
occurs in his feeling, his thinking, and his willing. The first is Prince
Albert grow up as a stammer man. He realizes that he marriage with
Elizabeth. He should replaced his father to be a king while his brother
chooses to marriage with Wallis Shimpson.
Prince Albert
If I fail in my duty, he could return. I've seen plaque, "God protect each of our king." They mean are not me. Every empire in history has been to replace someone who died or will die.
(TKS/Seidler; 01:12:13)
d. Freedom to Choose
The freedom to choose of Prince Albert occurs when he decided to
be friends with Lionel Logue (teraphist). Despite of they come from
different social level, they keep their friendship till they die.
The freedom is the requirment of choice. It is representing the aspects of Prince Albert’s existence. It is reflected in the following:
Prince Albert
This Dr. Logue of Harley Street. He ... speech therapy Lionel Logue
the honorable Archbishop
If I know the noble search for help, I will give my recommendation. Prince Albert
Dr. Logue will be attending this coronation... Archbishop
Sure I'll talk to the council, but it would be difficult to Prince Albert
I want to .. the doctor is placed in the box king ... Archbishop
Prince Albert
That's why this is appropriate. (TKS/Seidler; 01:16:17)
e. Anxiety
Anxiety appears when the people have choosen choice in their life
with responsibility and consequent.
The anxiety in The King’s Speech (2011) is shown when Prince Albert who received the King Edward VIII desire to succeed him as king.
After the coronation, Prince Albert has a very big responsibility. He must
continue the work held by his brother. Besides, Prince Albert should
prepare a press for Christmas and the decision for war. It is shown in the
folowing conversation:
Prince Albert
I'm trying to familiarize myself with how the document states. That's a ....Official letter from Mr. ... Baldwin, who did not understand at all. Finance David ... Christmas ... Press.
(TKS/Seidler:01:07:51)
This is the anxiety of Prince Albert and Lionel Logue. All of this
anxieties are the result of the existence of them, and it is the phenomena
the people who have to make decision on every choice.
f. Transendence of Ego
Transendence of Ego is the condition that human does something
which is out of his ego.
The next transandance of ego in The King’s Speech (2011) shows when Lionel Logue try to convince Prince Albert that Prince Albert can
make speech in front of his people an lead the war. Lionel Louge lead the
empire and he can be a good king like a king before him. This event is
shown in the conversation below:
Prince Albert
Listen to me! Listen to me! Lionel Logue
Listen to you? With what right? Prince Albert
With a pure right if it must I’m your king
Lionel Logue No, not
Prince Albert
Because I have right to listened! I have voice!
Lionel Logue Yes, it true.
(TKS/Seidler: 01:20:10)
Based on the conversation above Lionel Logue improve his level
of ego which is the highest level of Lionel Logue. He does something
which is useful for the other people. In this condition, he reaches the
transandance of ego in society level.
g. Nothingness
Human in nothingness when he is aware to choose and to define
himself. At this case nothing is such kind of condition which people can
make his existence and can make his being. Human being exist, they can
do anything, and other human can receive their existence, but when the
people die, they will be nothingness. This movie shows the nothingness
through the death of King George V. He does not exist in his life again
after his death. After he died, his son (King Edward VIII) can not keep the
mandate from him to be a king to lead the empire.
h. Persistence of The King’s Speech
Persistence is an essential factor of human desire into good health,
better job, and better life to reach a high level. In other word, People
should try to get what people want. A happiness can be achieved when
people walk on their lives with kindness. The issue above is part of
existence of Prince Albert who want to be able to speak.
In the King's Speech (2011), Tom Hooper also wants to prove that human should have persistence to reach his dream. Every human has his
dream in life. In this movie, Prince Albert persists to be Able to speech. He
chooses Lionel Logue as his therapist. With the help of Lionel Logue and
work hard of Prince Albert, finally he was able to give a speech to his
5. Conclusion
After analyzing The King’s Speech movie, the researcher can draw the following; Firstly, based on the structural analysis, it is evident that in the movie, Prince Albert wants to convey a moral massage that “Prince Albert van be speak in public even though it is difficult and painful. In order to pass
in the massage, the director erects major character as high imagination. It is
doing the character of Prince Albert that successful to get much impression
for a drama movie. The plot begins with the exposition, conflict, and climax.
There are major characters and minor characters. One of the major characters
in this movie is Prince Albert. Prince Albert was born as a stammer man. He
is a son of King Goerge V and brother of King Edward VIII. As a stammer
man, Prince Albert feels so hard to speak. After his father died, King Edward
VIII replaced King Goerge V a king. However, not a long time after his father
died, King Edward VIII wants to abdicates and leaves the throne. It happened
because King Edward wants to marry Wallis Simpson. In this situation,
Prince Albert should replaced his brother as a king. As a stammer man that
wants to be able to speak in public, Prince Albert worked hard. He did
therapy with Lionel Logue by unorthodox method. Finally, Prince Albert can make a speech in public by Lionel Logue’s motivation and therapy.
Secondly, based on the Existentialist analysis The King’s Speech
(2011) movie, the movie has the existentialist aspect built in the story and character in this movie. Existentialist reflects individual context in
expressing search of existence through consiousness, cogito, freedom to
choose, anxiety, and transendence of ego.
The existence of people starts with being. It is the phenomena when
the people should do something to be what they want in their life. The
second, existence of human can be shown by the existence before essence, it
is a process of becoming by human to define herself as well as their will. The
third is based on consciousness. Human can define himself in the process of
The next requirement for human to exist is freedom to choose, it is the
requirment from human to make a choice. The fifth is anxiety, it is the
condition when people have choosen choice in their life with responsibility
and consequent. The sixth is transcendence of ego phenomena, actually
humans have a differential level of transcendence of ego, in this phenomena
people do out of her ego level. And the last is nothingness, human in
nothingness when he has aware to choose and to define himself. All of those
are the aspect which occurs in The King’s Speech existentialist’s analysis.
The King’s Speech is the movie which has the persistence issue that are built in the story and character in this movie. Persistence is an essential
factor of human desire into good health, better job, and better life to reach a
high level. The issue above is part of existence of Prince Albert who want to
REFERENCES
McGrath, Allister E. Wycliffe hall and regent college 1997. Christian Theology and Introduction second edition. UK: Blackwell.
Roberts, David E. 1957. Existentialism and Religious Belief. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Robert, Edgar and Jacobs, Henry E. 1989. Literature An Introduction to Reading and Writing. New Jersey: Englewood Cliffs
Septiano, Allen. 2011. “Representation power of the King's rhetoric in the film The King's Speech movie (2011”). Unpublished research paper. Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Universty of Surabaya
Sartre, Jean Paul, translated by Hazel E. Barnes. 1958. Being and Nothingness.
London: Routledge.
Warnock, Jean Paul, translated by Hazel E. Barnes. 1958. Being and and Nothingness. London: Routledge.
Webber, Jonathan. 2009. The Existentialism of Jean- Paul Sartre. 270 Madison Ave. New York: Routlege.
Webster, Frank. 1995. Theories of the Information Society. London: Routledge.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504320/synopsis Accessed in April 2, 2012 at 19:35 pm 2012. The King’s Speech movie review
http://amiratthemovies.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/review-the-kings-speech-2010/
Accessed March 27, 2012 at 10.18 am
2012. The King’s Speech movie review: when the stammerer to be a King http://www.kapanlagi.com/film/internasional/the-kings-speech-saat-si-gagap-menjadi-raja.html
Accesed March 27, 2012 at 10.25 am
2012. The King’s Speech movie review: love, soul and faith
